WWE sack Hulk Hogan over racist comments

Hulk Hogan was scrubbed from the WWE’s website on Friday morning, with no videos or photos of the famed wrestler remaining. He was also removed from the online Hall of Fame. His lawyer David Houston confirmed to PEOPLE MAGAZINE that he’s officially resigned from the organization.

“He decided to resign from WWE because he didn’t want to put them or his family through this,” Houston told PEOPLE.

WWE, however, maintains that Hogan was fired: “WWE terminated its contract with Terry Bollea (aka Hulk Hogan). WWE is committed to embracing and celebrating individuals from all backgrounds as demonstrated by the diversity of our employees, performers and fans worldwide.”

Hogan told PEOPLE he will use the situation to “improve as a person,” and takes the matter as an “important learning experience.”

A transcript of the audio shows the wrestler repeatedly using the n-word in reference to his daughter Brooke Hogan’s dating life.

Hogan was already enmeshed in legal drama when news of the transcript leaked. The Florida trial for his high-profile lawsuit against gossip site Gawker was recently delayed until at least the fall. The star’s legal team filed a $100 million lawsuit against the site after their 2012 posting of a sex tape, made in 2008, featuring Hogan. The tape was later removed from the site.